Allergy shots, also known as immunotherapy, combat the cause of allergies rather than the symptoms. Allergy shots are injections of small amounts of allergens into your body so that your immune system can develop a tolerance to them. The goal of allergy shots is for the patient to no longer exhibit allergy symptoms after the treatment is over.
Generally speaking, patients who undergo immunotherapy get shots in the clinic once or twice a week for the first several months. The dose gradually goes up, and when you reach the maintenance dose, you only have to come in every two to four weeks. By the last year of treatment, you only get the shots every few months. The whole process takes about three to five years for most people, depending on severity of allergies and response to ongoing treatment.
If you are unable to manage your allergy symptoms with over-the-counter medications, call us at (479) 750-2080 to schedule an evaluation with one of our allergy specialists.